The Assam Police Special Task Force, with assistance from the West Bengal Police, has arrested eight members of the banned terrorist organization Ansar-al-Islam Bangladesh, also known as Ansarullah Bangla Team.
The arrests were made in a coordinated effort to dismantle the group’s plans to sow terror and disruption by targeting the strategic ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor in Siliguri, which connects West Bengal to the northeastern states of India.
‘Operation Praghat’ foils nefarious plans
The arrests come amidst a backdrop of heightened vigilance in the region.
According to reports, the arrested individuals were part of a clandestine module named ‘Shahadat,’ which has been actively recruiting and operating in West Bengal after the crackdown on Ansar-al-Islam in Bangladesh.
The group’s activities included plans to assassinate prominent Hindu leaders in the Northeast, which could have led to significant communal unrest and instability in the region.
The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Praghat,’ involved collaboration between the Assam Police Special Task Force, West Bengal Police, and forces from Kerala to neutralize the transnational threats. The police have seized materials that suggest the group was preparing for attacks, including targeting key figures to incite communal violence.
Investigations are ongoing to uncover further networks or plans. The police have also recovered laptops and mobile phones from the suspects, which are being analyzed for more information on the group’s operations and connections.
The public has been urged to remain alert and report any suspicious activities.